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Calaminarian grassland

This is a strange, sparse habitat of grassland growing on old mining tracks and slag heaps, on river gravels and naturally exposed metal-rich soils in the mountains. Only the toughest metal-loving plants can thrive here.

Beth yw o?

Calaminarian grassland is named after the zinc violet, Viola calaminaria, a plant found growing in grasslands on metal-rich soils in continental Europe, and named after the zinc ore calamine. While the violet itself is absent from the UK, almost 30% of the calaminarian grassland in Europe is found here.

This unusual type of grassland develops on nutrient-poor soils with high levels of toxic heavy metals, such as zinc, lead, chromium and copper. It is generally associated with old mine workings on limestone, some dating back to Roman times, although much is quite recent - a product of mid-19th century mining. It is also found on exposed river shingle, including where heavy metals from mine-wash have accumulated on river beaches and terraces. In a few places, it occurs on soils containing a high proportion of rock fragments, ‘skeletal soil’, over rock containing ‘serpentine’ minerals (so named for their resemblance to snake skin) and exposed mineral veins - mainly in the Scottish Highlands. It may have once occurred naturally on metal-rich substrates that have since been removed by quarrying.

The vegetation is generally sparse, although grazing by rabbits or sheep is often needed to prevent scrub from taking over. There are several thousand sites, but relatively few are species-rich. River shingles tend to support the widest variety of plants.

Pam fod o fel hyn?

Most plants can't tolerate the high levels of heavy metals found in soils underlying calaminarian grassland, so the habitat is characterised by a limited range of species. Some species, including sheep’s fescue, bladder campion and thrift, have specially adapted forms that can grow here, while others, including spring sandwort (also known as leadwort) and alpine pennycress, are largely confined to this habitat.

Belonging to a botanical category called 'metallophytes', these specialist plants that grow here actively retain some metals, which can deter pests while immobilising others in their roots. Species typical of limestone grassland are also frequent, and include thyme and kidney vetch. There is also a suite of characteristic metal-tolerant lower plants, including the liverwort greater copperwort, which is only found in the UK. The metal content, lack of nutrients and lack of humus to retain water help to maintain the open conditions suitable for these species by preventing the vigorous growth of more competitive species, as well as slowing succession to scrub.

Dosbarthiad yn y DU

Calaminarian grassland is found in a wide variety of locations, though there is only an estimated 450 hectares of this habitat. Hotspots are found in mid-Wales, the Pennines and the Highlands.

Beth i edrych am

Not all sites are species-rich, but look out for scarce plants such as northern rock-cress and forked spleenwort (a fern). Pyrenean scurvy-grass is found on wet mine spoil or river shingle, and dune helleborine can be found on shingle sites where birch woodland has become established. Northern sites may support Arctic sandwort and Shetland mouse-ear - another species only found in the UK. In some places, you might spot the signs of an industrial past - look for evidence of flues, ponds and slag heaps.

Cadwraeth

Calaminarian sites have been lost over recent years through re-working for minerals, agricultural ‘improvement’, scrub encroachment and the canalisation of rivers. Heavy metals are gradually lost - for example through natural leaching or the accumulation of topsoil on the substrate surface - and are not renewed as mining has ceased. In such cases, scrapes may be made to expose metal-rich substrates. The very small size of many sites can make sustainable appropriate management a challenge, and management also needs to be sensitive to locations that often have unique historical significance.